How Much Does a Website Cost for a Trade Business?
For trade businesses, a website is rarely “just a website.” It is your digital storefront, your proof of credibility, and your easiest way to turn searches into calls. Costs vary because the scope varies. A one page presence site is a different project than a lead engine built for multiple services and service areas.
Below are realistic pricing ranges you will commonly see in the US market in 2025, plus the factors that move your budget up or down.
Typical website pricing ranges for trade businesses in 2025
Option 1: DIY builder site
Upfront: $0 to $500 if you do it yourself
Monthly: $20 to $60 for the platform plan, sometimes more for advanced features
This works when you need something simple fast. It is best for referrals and repeat clients, not competitive search. The tradeoff is you are doing the writing, layout, and ongoing changes yourself.
Option 2: Template based professional build
Upfront: $1,500 to $4,000
Timeline: about 2 to 4 weeks
Best for: single service trades, smaller service areas, clean lead capture
This is a common sweet spot for smaller contractors. You get a professional structure, mobile friendly layout, and clearer calls to action without paying for deep customization.
Option 3: Custom small business build for lead generation
Upfront: $2,000 to $10,000
Timeline: about 3 to 8 weeks
Best for: multiple services, multiple towns, stronger trust and conversion
This range typically includes better page strategy, higher quality copy, conversion focused layouts, and a more robust setup for tracking calls and forms.
Option 4: High competition, multi location, or growth focused build
Upfront: $10,000 to $30,000 or more
Timeline: about 6 to 12 weeks
Best for: larger teams, aggressive growth goals, advanced integrations
If you compete in a dense metro, cover many areas, or want deeper tracking and integrations, costs rise quickly. You are paying for more content, more pages, more testing, and more technical complexity.
Monthly and ongoing costs to plan for
Even after launch, a trade website has ongoing expenses. Some are mandatory, some are optional based on your goals.
Baseline monthly costs
Most trade businesses should plan for at least:
Hosting or platform plan: often $20 to $60 per month on builders, or $10 to $50 per month on separate hosting
Basic maintenance: commonly $35 to $500 per month depending on service level and site complexity
Maintenance typically covers updates, security, backups, monitoring, and small fixes. If nobody owns this, sites get slow, break after updates, or become vulnerable to spam.
Marketing and local SEO support
If you want consistent lead flow from search, many businesses also invest in:
Ongoing local SEO: often $500 to $2,500 per month, depending on competition and coverage
Content and landing pages: priced monthly or per page, depending on the plan
If you are in a quieter market and rely on referrals, you may not need a retainer. If you are in a competitive area, ongoing work is usually what protects your rankings over time.
What drives the cost up for trade websites
Pricing differences usually come down to how much the site needs to do. These are the biggest cost drivers.
Page count and service area coverage
Trade sites often need separate pages for core services and the areas you serve. More pages mean more writing, more layout, more internal linking, and more review time.
Copywriting that matches real customer intent
Homeowners search differently than contractors talk. Strong copy answers the questions people actually have, like pricing expectations, timing, warranties, and what happens next. That takes time to do well.
Trust assets that reduce hesitation
The fastest way to lose a lead is to look unproven. Costs can increase if you need help building:
Project galleries and before and after photos
Reviews and reputation proof
License, insurance, and credibility messaging
Lead tracking and integrations
If you want to know which pages and campaigns generate calls, you need tracking configured properly. Integrations with scheduling tools, CRM, or quote systems also add build time.
A practical way to choose the right budget
Instead of starting with “what is the cheapest,” start with “what result do I need.”
If you want credibility and referrals
A simple professional site is often enough. Focus on mobile readability, clear service information, and a frictionless call button.
If you want steady leads from search
Budget for a lead focused build with dedicated service pages, basic local SEO setup, and tracking. This is where most trade businesses see the best return.
If you want to scale into new areas
Plan for more pages, stronger content, and ongoing optimization. Scaling usually fails when the site is too thin to compete, or tracking is not set up from day one.
FAQ
Is it worth paying for a custom website as a trade business?
If you need leads from search, custom structure and content often pay off. If you run mostly on referrals, a simpler build may be plenty.
What is the biggest hidden website cost?
Ongoing maintenance and small changes. Businesses often budget for the build, then forget updates, security, and support.
How long does a contractor website usually take to launch?
A template based professional build often takes 2 to 4 weeks. A custom lead focused site is commonly 3 to 8 weeks, depending on content and approvals.
Conclusion
The real answer to trade business website pricing depends on scope, competition, and how much lead generation you expect the site to deliver. A basic presence can be lean, but a site built to win search typically needs more pages, better copy, and ongoing support.